Alternatives at a glanceBahareh Harandi, Lorraine ForteWHO'S ELIGIBLE Dropouts 16 to 20 years old
REFERRAL PROCESS The student's home school or regional office will handle referrals. Some programs report that dropouts are coming in on their own.
Schools for disruptive students
Who's Eligable: Students in grades 6 through 12 who have committed a Group 5 or Group 6 offense under the Uniform Discipline Code.
Group 5 offenses are, for the most part, criminal offenses—i.e., aggravated assault, arson, robbery and sex violations. However, if a student is found guilty of "gross disobedience" that is deemed... > Read More |
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Will they meet expectations?Lorraine V. ForteWhen Ada S. McKinley Community Services opened its new alternative schools in mid-February, they were so swamped with students that director Pamela Kennedy had to get up at 3:30 a.m. for a week to get the schools organized.
"We had so many students show up, I ended up teaching class—and I haven't done a lesson plan in 12 years," says Kennedy, division director of therapeutic education, with a laugh. "But I'm really excited about it. So many of the kids are saying, 'This is my chance to get myself together.' "
Ada McKinley, a private, non-profit social service agency, won a $... > Read More |
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Olive-Harvey Middle College throws teens a lifelineMaureen KelleherHow many high schools do you know where students call their teacher "godfather"? At Olive-Harvey Middle College, Robert H. White, professor of U.S. and Latin American history and team teacher of returning high school dropouts, has "adopted" the entire student body, about 100 16 to 21-year-olds finishing work for their diplomas. When he walks through the halls, his students inquire respectfully, "Good afternoon, godfather. how are you?"
"Fine, and you, my son?" he responds. "How are you, my daughter?"
Such exchanges typify Olive-Harvey Middle College, where students and... > Read More |
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How teens view alternative schoolsBahareh HarandiLake View High School
Michael Reyes, junior: If you send a bunch of troublemakers to a troublemaker school, they'll feel low-class; it'll bring their self-esteem down, and then they'll just cause more trouble. But for dropouts, they should always get another chance.
Adrian Medina, junior: Without troublemakers there'll be less fights and less problems [and] you'll be able to learn better 'cause you don't always have to look over your shoulder. It might be better for dropouts, too, 'cause they'll be in a different environment.
Eduardo Herrera, sophomore: The idea... > Read More |
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Chicago left out of the moneyLorraine ForteUnder the new Safe Schools Act, all school districts in the state—except Chicago—will be eligible next year for new state money for alternative schools.
The act, passed last May, requires all districts to open alternative schools next school year. The Illinois State Board of Education plans to ask for $6 million to pay for them.
But the act also states that Chicago won't get any funding until the 1997-98 school year, "because of the size of the Chicago public school system, as well as logistical concerns."
Nevertheless, Chicago hopes to get state money to expand its... > Read More |
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Who got contractsLorraine ForteThe following organizations received contracts to expand or open schools for dropouts:
Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Aspira Inc., Association House, Austin Career Education Center, Blue Gargoyle Inc., Catholic Charities/Garfield Alternative High School, Community Youth Development Institute, Community Services West, Pedro Albizu Campos High School, Greater West Town Community Development Project/West Town Academy, Howard Area Community Center, Hull House Association/Parkway Community House, Instituto del Progresso Latino.
Jane Addams Resource Corp., Jobs for Youth, Lake... > Read More |
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Evaluation too late to save some schoolsCurtis LawrenceJust before the beginning of the 1994-95 school year, the Milwaukee School Board voted to stop funding three of about two dozen alternative schools participating in the district's partnership program.
An independent evaluation of the program had found that while some schools provided a rigorous education, others were little more than "dumping grounds."
The board's action sparked heated debate over how the alternative schools should be monitored and evaluated. Some community activists charged that the schools were under attack because they served African-American students. In... > Read More |
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Failed alternative school reignites voucher debateCurtis LawrenceExito Education Academy first tried to be an alternative school. Then it tried to be a voucher school. Finally, it ended up as a lesson on the potential dangers of both.
In 1994, Exito lost its alternative-schools contract with the Milwaukee Board of Education because of numerous contract violations, including the falsifying of attendance data and teacher certification documents.
Despite that, the state accepted Exito for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which allows students to attend private non-sectarian schools at the state's expense. However, the school's... > Read More |
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